Yarmouth Port brothers among four charged in large scale heroin/fentanyl trafficking ring

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BOSTON – Two Yarmouth Port brothers, a Dominican national, and a Boston man were charged with running a large-scale heroin and fentanyl trafficking operation in Boston and on Cape Cod. Hundreds of fentanyl pills designed to look like oxycodone pills were allegedly trafficked by the defendants.

Alex Fraga, 25, the proprietor of Scottie’s Pizza in Hyannis, was charged with one count of possession of fentanyl/heroin with intent to distribute and two counts of attempted possession of fentanyl/heroin with intent to distribute. Kevin Fraga, 24, was charged with one count of possession of fentanyl/heroin and cocaine with intent to distribute and two counts of attempted possession of fentanyl/heroin and cocaine with intent to distribute. They were both arrested on Aug. 17, 2017.

Jose Solivan, 40, a/k/a Kevin Nunez, a Dominican national residing in Boston, and James Ramirez, 55, of Boston, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. Both men were arrested on Aug. 22, 2017. At his initial appearance, Solivan told the court that his real name was Kevin Nunez.

According to court documents, law enforcement conducted a long-term wiretap investigation into narcotics trafficking on Cape Cod. Through these wiretaps, investigators learned that Ramirez, together with others, including Solivan, was supplying the Fraga brothers with large quantities of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine for further distribution. Ramirez delivered the drugs to the Fraga brothers in Hyannis using vehicles specially outfitted with “hides” to conceal the drugs from law enforcement.

“Large-scale narcotics trafficking in Massachusetts is destroying lives and entire communities,” said Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb.” This was an important investigation that led investigators from Boston to Cape Cod and removed suspected deadly fentanyl-laced pills from the streets. Those pills would have put lives at risk. My office remains committed to working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to stem the tide of drugs that is flooding our neighborhoods.”

“DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling large-scale drug trafficking organizations like this one,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “It is alleged that this organization was responsible for distributing kilogram quantities of fentanyl and heroin throughout the Cape Cod area of Massachusetts. As we all know, fentanyl and heroin are causing deaths across the Commonwealth in record numbers and DEA is committed to aggressively pursue those who distribute these poisons in order to profit and destroy people’s lives and wreak havoc in our communities. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, state and federal law enforcement efforts in the Bay State and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to seek and bring to justice anyone who engages in these crimes.”

“I commend our state troopers and members of our partner agencies who worked diligently to collect evidence that led to these charges,” said Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. “This outcome will have a positive impact on the flow of dangerous opioids and opiates on the Cape.”

It is alleged that in June and July 2017, investigators made three controlled purchases from Ramirez. Each transaction included the purchase of 100 fentanyl pills designed to look like oxycodone pills. Each 100 pack of pills contained approximately 10 grams of fentanyl. It is further alleged that wiretaps from early July through Aug. 22, 2017, show consistent drug trafficking activity by Ramirez, who worked with Solivan to distribute narcotics. Specifically, on July 8, 2017, Ramirez delivered a kilogram of narcotics and fentanyl pills to Kevin Fraga on Cape Cod.

It is alleged that Ramirez and Kevin Fraga met in Hyannis on Aug. 16, 2017. After their meeting, investigators stopped Kevin Fraga’s vehicle for a traffic violation. Investigators then obtained federal search warrants for Fraga’s vehicle, a hotel room at the Best Western in Hyannis, the Fragas’ residence in Yarmouthport, and a Winnebago owned by Kevin Fraga. During a search of the Winnebago, investigators seized three kilograms of heroin, fentanyl pills, and a firearm; during the search of the hotel room, investigators seized approximately 59 grams of cocaine, approximately 87 grams of a fentanyl/heroin mixture, and a digital scale; during the search of the Fragas’ home, investigators seized approximately 30 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture as well as another digital scale; and during the search of Kevin Fraga’s vehicle, investigators seized approximately 165 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture, 136 grams of fentanyl, 200 fentanyl pills packaged to look like oxycodone, another 25-gram bag of a heroin/fentanyl mixture, and a stack of U.S. dollars. Investigators further recovered more than 1,200 fentanyl pills from Ramirez’s residence and over 50 grams of heroin from Solivan. The drug contents are suspected pending final laboratory analysis.

All of the charges against the Fraga brothers, Ramirez and Solivan carry a potential sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years to life of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe made the announcement today. The investigation was led by the DEA Cape Cod Resident Office and the Massachusetts State Police – Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the Brewster, Harwich, Sandwich, Mashpee, Chatham, Yarmouth, and Barnstable Police Departments and the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Rosen of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
Media release furnished by U.S. Atty. of Mass office

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